Man who shot two Jewish men in Pico-Robertson area sentenced to 35 years in prison
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man who shot two Jewish men after they left synagogues in the Pico-Robertson district last year was sentenced Monday to 35 years in federal prison.
Jaime Tran, 30, pleaded guilty in June to all charges against him, which included two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"After years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles,'' Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
"Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself. As millions of Jewish Americans prepare to observe the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to aggressively confronting, disrupting and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism, or by hatred of any kind. No Jewish person in America should have to fear that any sign of their identity will make them the victim of a hate crime.''
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said the two victims "were complete strangers to Mr. Tran. He attempted to kill them for the sole reason that they were Jewish. In fact, Mr. Tran chose the location for these shootings by typing into yelp, kosher market."
In February 2023, Tran went to Pico-Robertson where he allegedly shot a Jewish man near a synagogue. He returned to the same area the next day and shot another Jewish man at close range, according to authorities. Both victims survived the shootings.
He was arrested the following day and has remained in custody, according to authorities. Tran had been restricted from owning firearms due to mental health issues, but allegedly acquired two guns in January 2023 through a third party.
Tran had a history of making antisemitic remarks going back to 2018 when he made "hate-filled statements" about other students while he was in dental school, according to the press release.
In 2022, Tran emailed antisemitic statements to former classmates, according to authorities, including excerpts from a website which described Jewish people as "primitive."
"I'm thankful for the hard work our investigators and prosecutors have put into this case," Los Angeles Police Department Chief Dominic Choi said. "Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our communities and safety. The Los Angeles Police Department is stronger through our federal partnerships, better serving the people of Los Angeles."
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles said in a statement, "Our community appreciates the swift filing of federal charges, thorough investigation, and successful prosecution of this hate crime. We hope today's decision helps to bring closure to the victims and their families and makes our broader Jewish community feel protected."
ABC News and City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
